The Portland daily press., 1887-06-08
THE PRINCE OF WALES uNBENps.
A Graphic Description OF London
Smoking Concert.
II. c. crawtord,s London Letter.l J

Il. q. Crawf0rd's London Letter.
One of the features of London social life is
the smoking concert. There are several So
cieties throughout London which give smok-
ing concerts. These are considered the most
interesting forms of entertainment. Only
gentlemen attend. Evening dress is requi-
site. The members sit about in an informal
way and smoke during the rendering Of
good program. Generally these organizations
are made up Of men Of leisure, who find an
occupation in the study Of the arts. One Of
the most noted OF the fashionable amateur
organizations is the Royal Amateur orches-
tral society, which holds meetings once
month during the winter in the Princes hall.
Piccadilly This is the society whose presi-
dent is the duke of Edinburg. IL is especial
ly favored by the royal family. The prince
of Wales always attends its concerts. 1tis one
of the few places where he comes early and
remains until the close Of the programme.
This society has an orchestra OF so members.
Each member Is supposed to be gentleman
of leisure. or Of titled family. When the
Duke Of Edinburg is on duty. at London he
personally conducts the orchestra. l was
told that this was one OF the places where
the Prince of Wales came and unbent and
freed himself from all formality. 1t was at
perfect footing Of equality with the members
Of the society. 1t would hardly be correct TO
say that this represents the position Of the
prince. / don't see how more formality could
be extended to any one, and the equality
spoken Of was not even suggested. In the
first place he came in by side entrance, at
tended by his familiar, the Hon. III. Trywhitt
Wilson. The prince was in plain evening
dress. As he solemnly entered the entire
audience arose, as does the Congress of the
TTpffaA Gfafao ~ kb, FRO. - H.
dent-elect upon Inauguration day. This au-
dience stood In respectful attitude until the
Prince OF Wales had advanced into an open
square at one end Of the hall just in front Of
the orchestra. This open square was lined
about with sofas and seats, with table In
| the centre upon which were two vases filed
with flowers. The prince took a seat upon
| the sofa in the center, facing the orchestra.
Until he sat down the audience remained
standing. No one present was expected to
enter this square except upon invitation OF
the prince, unless he were a high official or
of rank which entitled him to a familiar
social relation with the prince. There was a
special table just beyond this square, against
the wall, for the Prince of Wales's refresh
ments. His own servant, in red livery,
stood there against the wall all
the evening ready to respond to the
slightest gesture OF his master. This
little. square where the prince sat
was filed up soon after his arrival by promi-
nent and distinguished men. The lord
| chamberlain, who is never far away from
| the Prince Of Wales. sat at his left and Mr..
| Wilson upon his right. No one Of the dig
| nitarics inside the square spoke to the
/ Prince of Wales unless he first addressed
| them. Every one present appeared to follow
| the movements Of the bored prince with as
i much interest as IL he had never seen him
before. When he drank brandy and water a
| great thirst seized upon every one present
He at first smoked large black cigar. Their
| gmOkQd a cigar did r0
single cigarette or pipe. Later in tht
evening the Prince began smoking cigarettes
Then cigarettes blossOmed all through thI
hall like flakes Of snow. 1t was also observe,
that the Prince Of Wales wore no watch
conspicuous watch chains mysteriously dis
appeared, so that when the audience brok,
| up there was hardly watch chain to be
| seen. The Prince also led the applause. NJ
one presumed TO applaud unless he at frs
| approved. He would cry out at differen
times, "Good, good" and then the audienc
| would become frantic in its approval. Tn
Prince appeared to have real f0ndness 70
the music. He followed with unfiagging in
terest the rendering of every number, an
showed real appreciation in his appiaus
and approval Yet 1t was so funny to watc
him and his audience about him and thin
that this-what number Of English gentle
men had told me--waS where the Prime
came to unbend, and to become lone of tn
boys" as member OF the society describes
it. never saw anyone surrounded wit
more formality, and there was not the fain
est suggestion Of familiarity from beginnin